Bonus Types

[dominique]

Which type of bonus do you like most and why?

Which type of bonus do you like least and why?

 

[GrandMaster]

Like: real cashable bonus with low WR.
Hate: bonus accounts.

 

[dominique]

What do you mean by bonus accounts - sticky bonuses?

Do you prefer a match bonus or a % of deposit bonus? How about bonuses that are lower but recur monthly? It seems there are a lot of different types of bonuses out there and I am just trying to figure out the pros and cons for them.

I have pretty much stayed away from bonuses myself since wagering requirements entered into the picture. Now I am out of the loop.

 

[Macgyver]

Bonus accounts are where the casino puts the bonus money into a seperate account and you have to wager that money (say 35x, though I can't remember the specific casinos who do this) before you can transfer any money into your real account.

These casinos also require a minimum of $50 to be transferred over into the real account and then the player has to wager the original deposit plus the transferred amount yet another 35x before a withdrawal can be made.

Bonus accounts dilute your bankroll and make you more prone to busting out.

 

[dominique]

Yikes!

Which casinos are doing that?

 

[caruso]

The Golden Reef / Captain Cooks group.

Total ripoff.

 

[KasinoKing]

The Golden Reef / Captain Cooks group.
Total ripoff.

I can confirm that - having been ripped off by both recently.

To answer the original question:-
Same as Grandmaster, cashable monthly 100% match is top dog (e.g. Intercasino).
Sticky, bonus account, or slots only bonuses are long-shots - avoid if possible!

 

[Vesuvio]

Can't say I'm really that bothered about the type of the bonus as long as it has a good positive expectation for the player! Decent sticky bonuses are highly profitable & though I agree bonus accounts are a nuisance it's not a reason for avoiding them. Captain Cooks had by far the most generous bonus around a while back, despite the dreaded bonus account (at the moment the wagering requirement makes it a struggle, though still worth doing).

Golden Reef & co. used to be a scam where they wouldn't tell you what you needed to wager in the bonus account. Now it's perfectly straightforward and a better option than most of the standard deposit match bonuses with game restrictions and higher wagering requirements.

 

[dominique]

I think there will soon be a trend towards sticky bonuses.

I wonder if there is a good way and a bad way to set these up.

I would like to concentrate on the bonuses the casinos offer in the upcoming conferences I will be attending this year.

So I am looking for lots of input - which I will pass along then.

 

[Black21Jack]

The Golden Reef / Captain Cooks group.

Total ripoff.

Although I agree that these bonus accounts are stupid, you can't really say that they are a ripoff. Players should be aware of all terms before they play at a casino anyways so just don't claim the bonus.

 

[dominique]

Although I agree that these bonus accounts are stupid, you can't really say that they are a ripoff. Players should be aware of all terms before they play at a casino anyways so just don't claim the bonus.

Well, you have to keep in mind that the general public who decides to go and try out an online casino has not read the boards. They either go straight from a search engine into a casino or end up using a portal they find during search.

I can tell you that no matter how often I mention that people need to read all the conditions, they don't. They play and if they win they don't get paid and don't understand why. It is the chief complaint I get. People just don't understand what the big deal is until they don't get paid. Then they go home and tell everyone that online casinos are thieves, and we sit around and wonder why we constantly have to fight legislation banning online gambling.

When I ask if they read the conditions, they say "conditions for what, being allowed to play"? Or "I didn't see any conditions". Well many times the conditions are not located prominently, you have to go look for them. Some person who is about to play online for the first time - they are excited and roaring to go and could care less about bonuses and such. They are realy for some Vegas style fun!

So, I would like to get WR simplified. I would like to find a way that would be good and doable for all inolved - the newbies, seasoned players, and still protect the casinos from losing their butt because of bonuses.

WR in it's current form is a total nuisance. It is too complicated and pretty soon both casinos and players will have to have lawyers interpret them. It's getting out of hand - nuts!

So, help me out here. There has got to be a way this thing can be made to work for everyone.

Just your opinions about excisting bonus structures are helpful, and any suggestions for change are also.

 

[jpsartre]

I agree. At several casinos you really have to look hard to find the terms and conditions.

 

[KasinoKing]

I agree. At several casinos you really have to look hard to find the terms and conditions.

I also agree. I recently joined Casino on Net - supposedly the biggest online casino in the world - and it took me (an experienced T&C reader!) several minutes to locate their hidden away terms!
There is no link ANYWHERE on their homepage, and I personally think this is done deliberately, as Dominique says, to 'trap' the unsuspecting inexperienced punter.
I think this is disgusting, and all casinos should be forced to have a link on their homepage, and also, the T&C's should automatically appear when anyone clicks on any bonus offer link also.
What are the chances...?

 

[caruso]

Although I agree that these bonus accounts are stupid, you can't really say that they are a ripoff. Players should be aware of all terms before they play at a casino anyways so just don't claim the bonus.

I would say that these bonus accounts are designed by this casino group to rip off its customers. True, the player can ask support about them, and support will honestly enough say that they don't know, because the wagering amounts are undisclosed and decided after the fact by management, ie. management decides when any individual has played (read "lost") enough.

So, I consider this a ripoff. The player can - and should - choose not to play, of course. But this is in essence a ripoff, in my opinion.

 

[virtualted]

I hope you are successful in your quest. I think you are 100% right. I think a number one order of business should be definitions of what a term means. I.e. Cash back, does that mean a player gets his cash back, cashable or non cashable bonus, free chips, etc. As you said even with all things disclosed, how do you get a customer to read them, that is the real task at hand?

 

[GrandMaster]

I think Global Player's bonus system is best. The bonus is converted to real money gradually. You can see your withdrawable balance and bonus balance in the cashier. There is no explicit WR, you can always withdraw your withdrawable balance, you just lose any bonus still in your account. The way it is set up also takes care of the problem of people hedging bets on roulette.

 

[paul1]

The Golden Reef / Captain Cooks group.

Total ripoff.

These are, of course, two different groups. Not long ago, the Golden Reef, UK Casino, Aztec Riches, etc., was WAY out of line. I believe they have changed it to a reasonable deal now.

But Captain Cooks? OMG! I can't figure it out. I was thinking of redepositing but started reading their terms about their bonus accounts. I'm TOTALLY confused. I wouldn't THINK of playing with them again. I don't know if it's a good deal or a bad deal. All I know is I don't understand it at all. So forget it. Plenty of other places to play.

By the way. i think most Playtechs used to have real bonuses. Then along came Golden Palace to their ranks. Soon, everyone changed to their "Golden Palace-type" bonuses. They're not a true "sticky" bonus because they take out the bonus with your first cashout. Wizard of Odds calls it a Phantom Bonus. Myself and a friend have our own term for it, to distinguish it from a sticky bonus. We call it a STINKY bonus.

 

[Vesuvio]

I would say that these bonus accounts are designed by this casino group to rip off its customers. True, the player can ask support about them, and support will honestly enough say that they don't know, because the wagering amounts are undisclosed and decided after the fact by management, ie. management decides when any individual has played (read "lost") enough.

So, I consider this a ripoff. The player can - and should - choose not to play, of course. But this is in essence a ripoff, in my opinion.

That used to be true of the Golden Reef & co. group and at the time I'd have absolutely supported your statement, but it isn't any more. Their new system could be explained better, but you always know exactly how much wagering you still have to do in the bonus account - when you understand it it's simple and fair.